[THE INVESTOR] Amid the growing popularity of South Korean beauty products pioneered by behemoths AmorePacific and LG Household & Health Care, more companies are expanding overseas.Instead of launching and campaigning for their own brands, though, they are targeting overseas market as original equipment manufacturers or as original development manufacturers. Claires Korea, which raked in 180 billion won (US$162.87 million) revenue boosted by its best-selling item Guerisson horse oil cream, annou

[THE INVESTOR] Korea Air announced on Sept. 22 that it has signed a memorandum of association with US Boeing to develop 500 MD unmanned helicopters at its Seoul headquarters on Sept. 21.The US aircraft behemoth will provide technical support to Korean Air so that it can modify and arm the 500MD helicopters, which it has succeeded in converting to be operable unmanned since 2014.Korea Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho (left) and Boeing Chairman Dennis Muilenburg.  Korean Air  The 500 MD model was made by

[THE INVESTOR] Englewood Lab plans to list on secondary bourse KOSDAQ and build a manufacturing hub in South Korea, said CEO David Chung at a press conference in Seoul on Sept. 22.The US cosmetics ingredient manufacturer is poised to go public in October. Englewood Lab's product packaging line.Established in 2004, the ODM company has provided skincare products to over 60 beauty brands including Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, Kiehl’s and L’Oreal. It posted 59.6 billion won (US$54.02 million) revenue

[THE INVESTOR] Green Source International of China plans to be listed on KOSDAQ early 2017, and will apply for preliminary investigation in November, according to news reports on Sept. 22. It will join another Chinese bio company Triplex International Biosciences that hopes to go public in the first quarter of 2017. Established in 1998, Green Source International is headquartered in Hong Kong, and shifted its focus from fish food manufacturing to health supplement business based on jewel orchid,

[THE INVESTOR] LS Networks has decided to shut down all its fashion businesses except for Prospecs, according to news reports on Sept. 21. The company has five more brands including Skechers, Mont Bell and Peak Performance, and its performance peaked in 2012 with a 948 billion won (US$857.92 million) turnover. But since 2013 with a 5 billion won operating loss, it has failed to return to black, and its net loss snowballed to 68.3 billion won in 2015.K-pop group Sista poses with Skechers sneakers

[THE INVESTOR] Cos9, an OEM and ODM for cosmetics companies, announced on Sept. 21 that it aims to become one of the top three cosmetics manufacturers, along with Cosmax and Kolmar Korea, by 2020. Cos9 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Claires Korea, whose best-selling cream from horse oil-based Guerisson range sold more than 30 million worldwide since its introduction in 2014. Claires Korea posted 180 billion won (US$161.22 million) revenue last year. On Sept. 21, Cos9 unveiled a newly completed

[THE INVESTOR] Daewoong Pharmaceutical announced on Sept. 21 that its botulinum toxin Nabota has been granted approval in Mexico and India.The South Korean pharmaceutical company aims to launch the formula in both countries by 2017. It will strengthen its presence in South America where its neurotoxin, commonly known as Botox injected for cosmetological applications, is already sold in six countries including Panama and Guatemala. Nabota was introduced in South Korea in 2014 and the company has

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Department Store announced on Sept. 21 that it has been selected as the preferred bidder to operate a commercial facility in Parc1 complex to be built in Yeouido, Seoul. The retail giant will sign a 20-year contract with the complex’s developer Y22 next week and build a department store within the site -- 46,200 square meter wide with a 628,254 square meter gross area -- for 30 billion won (US$26.85 million) annual lease. A rendering image of Parc1 complexIt will be the 16